‘We must continue to choose each other’

Life

‘We must continue to choose each other’

Highlights from the UUA General Assembly in Spokane, Washington, June 19–23.

John Benford, Nancy Pierce, Sonja L. Cohen
At GA 2019, before the service, the Rev. Marta I. Valentín invited people of color, indigenous people, and LGBTQ people of all ages to “come forward and let yourselves be seen”.

Before the Sunday morning service, the Rev. Marta Valentín invited people of color, indigenous people, and LGBTQ people of all ages to “come forward and let yourselves be seen” by joining her on stage at the end of the service as the choir sang “We Shall Be Known.” The implied question for the mostly white gathered community, she says, was: “Will we be the company you keep?” (© 2019 Nancy Pierce/UUA)

© 2019 Nancy Pierce/UUA

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‘I am running out of truths to tell and ways of saying them. It is time now to keep this beloved faith from fracturing. Moreover, in this delicate turning let us remember that before anything, ante todos, somos seres humanos, we are human beings who have chosen to travel together, to make a new, more just world together. We must continue to choose each other as companions if we are to accompany one another.”

—The Rev. Marta I. Valentín (below), newly appointed Professional Development director for the UUA’s Ministries and Faith Development staff group. Excerpted from the General Assembly Sunday morning worship service she led June 23. (See more photos of worship at GA.)

The Rev. Marta I. Valentín, newly appointed Professional Development director for the UUA’s Ministries and Faith Development staff group. Excerpted from the GA Sunday morning worship service she led June 23, 2019

The Rev. Marta I. Valentín preaches at the Sunday morning worship service June 23. (© 2019 John Benford/UUA)

© 2019 John Benford/UUA
Watch GA 2019 #502 Sunday Morning Worship

Watch GA 2019 #502 Sunday Morning Worship (YouTube)

The Rev. Dr. María Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa honors the Ancestors and blesses the space before the workshop “Indigenous Experience and Unitarian Universalism” at GA 2019.

The Rev. Dr. María Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa honors the Ancestors and blesses the space before the workshop “Indigenous Experience and Unitarian Universalism.” (© 2019 Nancy Pierce/UUA)

© 2019 Nancy Pierce/UUA
Members of the UU Church of Spokane, Washington, walk in the Opening Celebration banner parade at GA 2019.

Members of the UU Church of Spokane, Washington, walk in the Opening Celebration banner parade. (© 2019 Christopher L. Walton/UUA)

© 2019 Christopher L. Walton/UUA
Climate activist Levi Draheim leads the UU Ministry for Earth’s Procession of the Species, at GA 2019.

Climate activist Levi Draheim leads the UU Ministry for Earth’s Procession of the Species. (© 2019 Nancy Pierce/UUA)

© 2019 Nancy Pierce/UUA
Watch GA 2019 ‘Procession of the Species’

Watch GA 2019 ‘Procession of the Species’

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